Ex-Death Row Delaware Inmate Held Without Bail in Hawaii

HONOLULU (AP/WBOC) - An exonerated death row inmate from Delaware was ordered held without bail Wednesday on a sex trafficking charge in Hawaii.

Isaiah McCoy used force, threats and coercion on young women to make them participate in prostitution, U.S. prosecutors allege. He needs to be locked up so other victims can safely come forward, Assistant U.S. Attorney Morgan Early said at Wednesday's detention hearing in Honolulu. He's a danger to the community and to witnesses, she said.

"The nature of the charge involves threats, it involves violence," she said.

While McCoy is charged with one count involving one victim, prosecutors said they expect to bring additional charges.

McCoy maintains his innocence and is an advocate for criminal justice reform, his federal public defender Max Mizono said.

In 2010, McCoy was convicted of shooting a Maryland man and was sentenced to death. He spent nearly seven years in prison before being acquitted during a second trial. He then moved to Hawaii.

Over the summer, Honolulu police received complaints from women that McCoy had been "pimping" them, federal prosecutors said in court documents. McCoy "makes us have sex for money, and holds our belongings to control us," one woman said, according to the documents.

Mizono noted that McCoy wasn't charged with alleged actions toward the women who spoke to police and accused him of rape and beatings. If McCoy was such a danger, police should have arrested him then, Mizono said.

In September, he was arrested in connection with a Waikiki fatal shooting. McCoy wasn't the murder suspect, but was in the same apartment as the accused killer.

McCoy's co-defendant on the federal trafficking case is his Army soldier wife, Tawana Roberts. Her detention hearing was postponed at the request of her defense attorney.

HARRINGTON, Del. -- The Harrington Police Department is warning people of a possible card skimmer at local businesses after learning of a rise in credit and debit card fraud cases Wednesday. Harrington Police say they believe a card skimmer was placed onMore

HARRINGTON, Del. -- The Harrington Police Department is warning people of a possible card skimmer at local businesses after learning of a rise in credit and debit card fraud cases Wednesday. Harrington Police say they believe a card skimmer was placed on More

Dover Police and Georgetown Police cooperated in a drug investigation that finished with the arrest of 11 people. Police say the bust started with the search of a building at the Dunbarton apartments in Georgetown on January 31.

Dover Police and Georgetown Police cooperated in a drug investigation that finished with the arrest of 11 people. Police say the bust started with the search of a building at the Dunbarton apartments in Georgetown on January 31.

A new DelDOT project aims to address an area that's had over 100 crashes in the past ten years.

According to new design plans, DelDOT wants to realign Old Orchard Road to create a new, four-way intersection at the existing light at Savannah and Wescoats Roads. DelDOT engineer John Caruano says the project would cost $4 million in state funds, but solve multiple issues in the area.

A new DelDOT project aims to address an area that's had over 100 crashes in the past ten years.

According to new design plans, DelDOT wants to realign Old Orchard Road to create a new, four-way intersection at the existing light at Savannah and Wescoats Roads. DelDOT engineer John Caruano says the project would cost $4 million in state funds, but solve multiple issues in the area.